Ticks
What are ticks?
Ticks are ectoparasites and feed on their host’s blood outside their bodies. The blood of warm-blooded animals is the sole source of nutrition for ticks. These pests prefer an animal host, but they will bite us and feed on our blood if given the opportunity. Ticks are outdoor pests and are difficult to control because they are regularly introduced into our yards and other outdoor spaces by wild animals.
Ticks are not insects; they are arachnids. Adults have four pairs of legs, but the larvae only have three pairs. Like other arachnids, ticks have two body segments, are wingless, and lack antennae. The coloring and size of a tick are species-dependent, but in general, ticks are tiny and are dark in color, both features that help to make them less visible. At the first sign of ticks, schedule a pest control treatment for your Boise home.
Are ticks dangerous?
Ticks are a danger to people, wild animals, and pets. Their feeding process is completed over a period of days, allowing them to efficiently transmit the diseases they carry from host to host. The most concerning diseases that ticks spread in Idaho are Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia.
Why do I have a tick problem?
Ticks are mainly transported into our yards by the wild animals they are currently feeding on.
The more things you have on your property that attract wild animals, the more likely you will experience problems with ticks. Below is a list of things that regularly attract wildlife to a property.
- A lot of trees or wooded areas
- Woodpiles, leaf litter, brush piles
- Open trash cans and recycling bins
- Outdoor eating areas
- Gardens
When the ticks are full, they drop off the host to the ground, where they go through their next stage of development and then begin looking for a new host to use as a food source.
Where will I find ticks?
In your yards, you are most likely to find ticks living in the areas where wild animals or your pets spend their time. Ticks are slow-movers and are unable to fly or jump. To find a host, they crawl to the top of pieces of vegetation, where they wait for a host to brush past them that they can crawl onto.
When not on a host, ticks hide in areas that provide them with two things: shade and humidity. Spots where they regularly gather in our Idaho yards include:
- Under leaf litter or woodpiles
- Under decks and shrubs
- In areas of dense vegetation
- In the grass along fencelines, walkways, or porch steps
- Under outdoor furniture or play structures
How do I get rid of ticks?
Striving to be our best every day and be better than the day before, you can trust Affinity Pest Control with your pest control needs. At Affinity Pest Control, we perform pest control services for Boise properties that are not only effective but are responsible and eco-friendly. By using up-to-date technology and staying abreast of the latest advancements, we provide our customers with the highest quality services possible.
Our professionals are committed to accurately identifying and treating ticks and other pests that have found their way to your Boise area property. Protecting your home and family from our area’s toughest pests is our top priority! For more information about our residential and commercial pest control services in Boise, reach out to Affinity Pest Control today.
How can I prevent ticks in the future?
The best way to prevent ticks from taking over your Idaho yard is to partner with us at Affinity Pest and implement the following prevention tips:
Make your property less attractive to the wild animals that regularly introduce ticks into our yards. Keep lids on trash cans, remove bird feeders, maintain gardens, and remove areas of standing water and yard clutter.
Make your yard less of a place where ticks can thrive by keeping your lawn cut short, cutting back shrubbery, and removing leaf litter.
If you have wooded areas surrounding your yard, make sure to cut them back from your lawn.